The Blue Nature Alliance and Colorado State University’s Center for Protected Area Management are working in partnership to host the second annual Social Aspects of Marine Protected Areas Online Seminar in 2026!
Applications are currently open for the 2026 Social Aspects of Marine Protected Areas Online Seminar, an online professional development/capacity sharing program designed to support MPA practitioners in strengthening the social aspects of their management work. The seminar brings together practitioners from around the world to learn, reflect, and collaborate on approaches that advance effective and equitable marine conservation.
MPA professionals continue to highlight the need for deeper support in navigating social considerations—such as equity, cultural respect, community engagement, and collaborative governance. This seminar provides a dedicated space to develop these competencies while connecting with peers who are working toward similar goals in their own contexts.
Seminar Dates: March 4 – June 10, 2026
Application Deadline: January 16, 2026
The Blue Nature Alliance will be providing 20 scholarships for this edition of the program. To be considered for one of these scholarships, you must apply. Priority will be given to applicants who (1) represent ocean conservation areas where the Blue Nature Alliance is working, or (2) represent sites/organizations that contributed to the design of this seminar (see below for more information). If you meet one of the two priority conditions, please indicate this in the corresponding questions on your application. If you do not meet any of the priority conditions, we still highly encourage you to apply, as there is still a possibility that you could be awarded a full or partial scholarship.
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Visit this link to see where Blue Nature Alliance partners: https://www.
bluenaturealliance.org/ locations/ -
Major sites that contributed to this seminar are: Palau, Nunatsiavut, Belize, and various countries in the West Indian Ocean. Major organizations that contributed to this seminar are: Conservation International, the Nunatsiavut Government, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA), Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS), Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation Development (SACD), Ebiil Society, Palau National Marine Sanctuary, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Palau, Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO), among others.
We encourage marine conservation practitioners, community leaders, people working in NGOs and grassroots organizations, Indigenous Peoples leading ocean conservation, and others working in the management of marine spaces to apply and join a global cohort committed to strengthening people-centered approaches to MPA management.
